Looking after the mental health of those in Norfolk and Suffolk is a partnership, says Amanda Hedley, CEO at Norwich Mind.

We know from the people we come into contact with and contemporary research that one of the most important factors in the recovery from experiences like depression, anxiety or psychosis is the relationships we have with those close to us, the services we connect with and the communities we live in.

The process of recovery, creating a meaningful life regardless of the presence of 'symptoms,' is deeply personal and needs these connections with others so that we can begin to make sense of our experiences and how to move forward.

Statutory mental health services play a vital role in this process but with funding issues and overwhelmed services it is increasingly falling on us, our communities and local charities and organisations to support people.

In order to cope with this added complexity it seems essential, more so now than ever before, to learn as much as we can about mental health, share our experiences and campaign for properly funded services.

Locally we will continue to partner with statutory services, peer organisations, schools and businesses to help them support people in compassionate and recovery focused ways.

We also rely heavily on donations to develop and implement innovative new services that reflect the needs of the people living in Norwich and Central Norfolk.

Our charity is built on the shoulders of people with lived experience of mental health problems, the kindness and charity of the community, volunteers and the people who work for us.

We want to provide people with a platform to share their ideas, experiences and voice so that no one in central Norfolk and Norwich experiences mental health problems alone.

• For more from the EDP's special mental health takeover edition, click here.